Exclusive: They're the desperate faces of terrorists
threatening to destroy America on the latest gripping
season of "24." But playing the murderous
mother is a risky role for Iranian-born actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo, who revealed why she took
the part when she stopped by "Extra"
with newcomer Jonathan Ahdout, who plays her son.

Aghdashloo once said she would never play a terrorist.
So what changed her mind? "The fact that
she's a strong character, a complex character,"
Shohreh revealed.

On screen, Shohreh's husband tried to kill them
both, all the while Aghdashloo tried to melt down
some nuclear reactors. So are they just one big
happy family? "Yes indeed," she laughed.
"We try not to be bored."

Actually, Shohreh and Jonathan are like family.
They first shared the screen as mother and son
in the critically-acclaimed film, "House
of Sand and Fog," which earned her an Oscar
nomination.

"We had no idea we were both cast,"
Jonathan related. "I had her over for dinner
one night, and I told her, 'Shohreh, I got a part
on '24,' and she goes, 'What's your role?' And
I go, 'Behrooz.' And that's when she told me she
plays my mom."

But you can bet mom is mum about "24's"
secret scripts. Shohreh is one of the few cast
members who knows how the season will end. "I
have to know what I'm getting myself involved
in," she insisted. "Therefore, they
had to tell me what the story is all about."

So will they live or die? We'll find out one heart
pounding second at a time!